Mining machine with roof cutter



Jan. 21, 1964 A. L BBE MINING MACHINE WITH RooF CUTTER 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 9. 1961 INVENTP )yg/HV 635 yfaawf/s Jan. 2l, 1964 A. LBBE MINING MACHINE WITH ROOF CUTTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 9. 1961 /N VEN TOI? 68E BY wwwww United States Patent O "ice 3,118,657 MMG MACENE W111i 12.96F CUTTER Armin Lbbe, ber-nden, Kreis Unna, Germany, assigner to Gewerkschaft llisenhuette Westtalia, Wetltmar, near Lonen, Westphalia, Germany, a corporation of Germany Filed May 9, 1961, Ser. No. 108,336 Claims. (Cl. 2oz-8) rI'his invention relates to a coal mining machine and particularly to a machine of the planer type.

Such machines are Uenerally adapted to operate in conjunction with a conveyor and are adapted to be pulled along the face of a coal seam between the seam and the conveyor. The machine is provided with cutters similar to ehisels which gouge tinto the coal plowing it loose and onto the conveyor. When the machine has completed the trip the length othe working seam, the installation is `moved up toward the coal face and returned to plow out the coal on the return trip. The cutters utilized in this operation and in accordance with this invention are of different shapes. Some are adapted to slit the coal face and others to cut wider kenfs.

The cutters have been heretofore mounted on heads pivoted so that as the machine ladvances the cutters is caused to gouge further into the coal face `and on the reverse movement of the machine, the cutters cause the head to swing back and the cutters either drag along the face or drop back away from the coal.

With this invention, cutter heads are used which have cutters operating in both directions. On the cutter head the cutters me mounted in sets angularly disposed with respect to each other so that one set cuts as the machine travels in one direction and the other set cuts when the machines direction is reversed,

Additionally, there is provided a roof cutter so mounted that it yautomatically follows the contour of the roof by spring pressure so that if the roof lowers in spots the head will yield accordingly.

Additionally, the lower cutters are mounted on brackets which pivot about horizontal pins so that they dip or rise `at the ends to follow uneveness of the floor.

lt is, accordingly, an obj-ect of this invention to provide a coal mining machine of the planer type of large capacity and which adapts itself to varying seam conditions.

Other objects and advantages of the construction will be in part obvious and in part pointed out in the following description taken with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. l is a front View front elevation of `a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the mining machine;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view at the line lll-lll lookin.G in the direction of the arrows;

FlG. 4 is a sectional view of lthe roof cutter head mounting taken at the line lV-IV looking in the direction of the arrows, and;

FlG. 5 is a sectional view taken at the line V--V looking in the direction of the arrows.

The machine of this invention is of the general type shown in Herrmann Patent No. 2,745,651 of May l5, 1956 wherein is illustrated a conveyor provided with a guide upon which the base of a planer -is adapted to glide as it is propelled back and forth with respect to the face of a coal seam.

Accordingly, this machine is provided with a base 1 which is adapted to be propelled longitudinally of a coal seam (not shown). At either extremity of base 1 are brackets 1a and 1b pivotally mounted on horizontal pins 3 carried by base 1 toward its middle. On each bracket 1a and 1b is mounted a cutter head 16 having cutter blades 17 of the slitting type and pivotally swingable up and down ll? Patented Jan. 21, ll

on an arm 1S supported by base :1. The cutter blades 17 thus drag along the base of the seam and form a korf to which other blades are adapted to cut. Since brackets 1a and 1b lare pivoted, the blades 17 follow unevennesses of :the flow of the working.

For cutting above the slits formed by cutter 17 are provided a pair of pivotally motuited cutter heads '7 adapted to swing about pivots 1'9 `adjacent the cutter heads `16. Cutter heads 7 Iare adapted to `out as the machine moves in either direction. They are accordingly provided with two sets of cutter blades the sets being angularly disposed with respect to each other cach set differing from the other in that the outermost sets 6 are slitter blades except for the bottommost which is of the chisel type, the inner set of blades 2t? are all chisel type blades. Thus, as `the machine base 1 moves in either direction, the cutter heads 7 tip so that the blades cut in to the wall of the seam Aand those in advance slit the coal while the following cut-ter heads 7 having wider chisel blades `tend to out out larger chunks at the center.

Between cutter heads 7 is provided 'a unit adapted to support a pair of cutter heads 5 and a root cutter head 8. The suppont for unit 21 consists of a bottom plate 2.2 suitably welded to a front plate Z3. A pair of flanges 24 extending laterally serves to attach the unit to anges 25, extending from base 1, bolts 3 rbeing yadapted to secure unit 21 in place as well as pivots `for brackets 1a and 1b.

Suitably attached to the front plate 23 are a pair od cutter heads S pivoted on vertical pins 4 so that cutter heads 5 may swing into and out of cutting position. Cutter Iheads 5 are adapted to operate on coal in the seam above cutter heads 7. The unit Z1 is used when the seam is relatively deep. The machine can operate on thin coal seams by removing uni-t 21.

At the center is mounted the roof -cutter head 8 so arranged that it automatically follows the roof contour. For this purpose it has a special mounting which consists of a pair of telescopically arranged tubes 28 and 29, tube 28 being welded at the bottom to base plate lZ2 and Ythe vouter tube 29 extending vertically. Outside the tube 23 is provided with a head 39 upon which is mounted `a guide 31 carrying a pivot pin 32 tilted lbackwardly and eccentric to the tube 29. Cutter head 8 is pivoted on pin 32 the upper face of guide member 31 being so shaped as to permit head 8 to slide freely `as it swings back and forth. Head 8 is provided with blades 33 in this instance in two sets of two `blades each the sets being set angularly with respect to each other and extending radially from the direction of pin 32 and angularly with respect to each other. The angularity of pin 32 with respect to the vertical causes blades 33 to tilt upwardly as head S rocks in one direction or the other. At the very top is provided a movable cutter 11 fitting in a dovetail slot 34 `and held therein by a set screw 35. Cutter 11 is provided with a pair of points as indicated in PlG. 2, one or the other of the points lifts, depending upon the direction of rocking `of cutter head 8. 'IThe mounting of cutter head is adapted to cause the head to press against the roof of the seam and to this end a spring 12 is provided to press tube 29 upwardly. The compression of spring `12 can `be regulated. For this purpose a screw 13 having a head 40 bear-ing against the end of spring 12 is adapted to compress spring :12 by turning of a nut 112 engaging screw 13 and mounted between two plates 41 and 42 mounted within tube 2-9. Turning of screw 113 is prevented by a notched head 43 engaging bars 15 mounted longitudinally Within tube 29. Thus as nut 1e is turned, screw 13 moves up or down depending upon the direction of nut turning to compress or relieve spring 12.

As a support and guide -for spring 12 and screw 13, a

bar is provided centrally or" tubes 28 and 29' being bolted to the `bottom plate 22 with a nut 6 and extending up through screw 13. inasmuch as nuit i4 is inside tube 29, it is turned :by a worm 47 extending to the exterior of tube 2S* land engaging the nut i4 which is in the form of a worm wheel, The tube 2E" is limited in its upward movement by ya stop screw 4,23 mounted near the lower edge of tube 29 and adapted to engage an inner shoulder 49 on Iche inside of the back supporting plate 50. Turning of tube 2,9 is prevented by bars Sl mounted longitudinally on the outside of tube 2@ and engaging an encircling support it?.

lt will thus be seen that the above described machine is double acting, that is to say, the cutting is substantially identical regardless of the direction in which the machine is dragged along the coal hace. The cutters which engage the coal in one direction have their counterparts which come into play as the various cutter heads rock as the `direction of motion is reversed. Furthermore, those cutters which are not in use Withdraw so as not to drag on the coal and be a source of power loss.

Thus `by the above construction are accomplished among others the objects hereinbefore referred to.

I claim:

y1. ln a coal mining machine of the planer type adapted to be propelled in either direction longitudinally at the face of -a coal seam, including a horizontally extending base containing cutting means operatively disposed thereon for extractive engagement with the coal seam, the improvement which comprises a roof cutting arrangement positioned on said base, said roof cutting arrangement including `an elongated vertically extending mounting means of adjustable height xedly attached at the lowermost end thereof to said base, a roof cutter head pivotally disposed on the uppermost end of said mounting means for pivoting along a path in an inclined plane disposed between the vertical `and lthe horizontal, and cutter blades mo-unted on said cutter head for pivoting therewith, said mounting means being resiliently urged such that said uppermost end is vertically displaceably positioned a predetermined adjustable distance above said base, and said cutter head :and said cutter blades both being secured :from angular displacement from the inclined plane in which said path is situated yet both being .resiliently displaceable in vertical direction with said uppermost end of the mounting means upon a change in the uitging disposition of said resilient means.

2. Improvement according to claim l wherein said cutter head is disposed pivotally on the uppermost end of said mounting means by means or a tilted pivot angularly and eccentrically set at said uppermost end of the mounting means to permit pivotal movement of said cutter head along said path with said inclined plane intersecting both 'the vertical axis of the mounting Imeans and the horizontal yaxis at the uppermost end of said mounting means, said cutter blades being provided on said cutter head ra ially respect to said tilt-ed pivot and angularly with respect to each other whereby pivoting of said cutter head elevates the cutting edges of said cutter blades.

3. ln a coal mining machine of the planer type adapted to be propelled in either direction longitudinally at the face off a coal seam, including a horizontally extending base containing cutting means operatively Idisposed thereon ior extractive engagement with the coal seam, the improvement which comprises a roof cutting arrangement positioned on said base, said roof cutting arrangeient including a pair of vertically extending telescopically displaceably arranged tubes, one of said tubes being lixedly 'attached to said `base means, resilient means positioned for vertically urging said tubes a predetermined adjustable distance partially out of telescopic arrange-ment, a cutter head pivotally attached to the other of said tubes for pivoting along a path in lan inclined plane disposed ybetween the vertical and lthe horizontal, and cutter blades mounted on said cutter head for pivoting therewith, said cutter head and said cutter blades both being secured kfrom angular displacement from the inclined plane in which said path is situated yet both being resiiiently displaceable in vertical direction with the other said tube upon a Vchange in the urging disposition of said resilient means,

4. improvement according to claim 3 wherein said resilient means includes a loaded spring means positioned within said tubes, adjustment means being provided to adjust the compressive force of said loaded spring means.

5. Coal planer machine comprising a horizontal base means adapted to be propelled in either direction longitudinally at the face of a coal seam, including a bracket pirotaliy connected to each end of said ybase means `for pivoting about a horizontal axis 'of pivot with respect to the plane of the base means `to swing said brackets up `and down at the ends of the base means in order to follow `unevenness in the mine floor, said brackets being provided wA n rst cutter means pivotally mounted thereon for limited pivoting about a horizontal `axis of pivot and second cutter means pivotally mounted thereon and extending vertically upwardly to a `level above the level of said first cutter means for limited pivoting of said second cutter means about la vertical axis of pivot with respect to the plane or the base means, third cutter means being disposed on said base means intermediate said brackets and at a level above the level of said second cutter means, said third cutter means being pivotally mounted for limited pivoting about a vertical axis of pivot, and roof cutter means vertically resiliently displaceably positioned by mounting means on said base means midway of the 'ends of the ibase means and at `a :level above the level of said third cutter means, said mounting means including a pair ci" vertically disposed telescopically displaceable tubes having a loaded spring means positioned therewithin to extend urgingly said tubes partially out of telescoping engagement, adjustment means for adjusting the cornpressive force of said spring means yand stop means for imiting the extent said tubes may be urged out of telescopic arrangement, said roof cutter means being angularly and eccentrically pivotally arranged on the top end of the uppermost tube by means of a tilted pivot to permit limited pivotal movement oi said roof cutter means in a plane intersecting the vertical at an angle therewith, said roof cutter means being provided with cutting blades disposed radially with respect to said tilted pivot and angularly with respect to each other whereby pivoting or" said roof cutter means elevates the cutting edges of said blades, said second and roof cutter means being provided with cutting blades in sets alternately arranged to pivot into and out of coal engaging position in accordance with the direction or" movement of said base means.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,670,943 Vogel Mar. 2, 1954 2,745,651 Herrmann May 15, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 722,105 Great Britain Oct. 27, 1954 865,884 Germany Feb. 5, 1953 man 

1. IN A COAL MINING MACHINE OF THE PLANER TYPE ADAPTED TO BE PROPELLED IN EITHER DIRECTION LONGITUDINALLY AT THE FACE OF A COAL SEAM, INCLUDING A HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING BASE CONTAINING CUTTING MEANS OPERATIVELY DISPOSED THEREON FOR EXTRACTIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE COAL SEAM, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES A ROOF CUTTING ARRANGEMENT POSITIONED ON SAID BASE, SAID ROOF CUTTING ARRANGEMENT INCLUDING AN ELONGATED VERTICALLY EXTENDING MOUNTING MEANS OF ADJUSTABLE HEIGHT FIXEDLY ATTACHED AT THE LOWERMOST END THEREOF TO SAID BASE, A ROOF CUTTER HEAD PIVOTALLY DISPOSED ON THE UPPERMOST END OF SAID MOUNTING MEANS FOR PIVOTING ALONG A PATH IN AN INCLINED PLANE DISPOSED BETWEEN THE VERTICAL AND THE HORIZONTAL, AND CUTTER BLADES MOUNTED ON SAID CUTTER HEAD FOR PIVOTING THEREWITH, SAID MOUNTING MEANS BEING RESILIENTLY URGED SUCH THAT SAID UPPERMOST END IS VERTICALLY DISPLACEABLY POSITIONED A PREDETERMINED ADJUSTABLE DISTANCE ABOVE SAID BASE, AND SAID CUTTER HEAD AND SAID CUTTER BLADES BOTH BEING SECURED FROM ANGULAR DISPLACEMENT FROM THE INCLINED PLANE IN WHICH SAID PATH IS SITUATED YET BOTH BEING RESILIENTLY DISPLACEABLE IN VERTICAL DIRECTION WITH SAID UPPERMOST END OF THE MOUNTING MEANS UPON A CHANGE IN THE URGING DISPOSITION OF SAID RESILIENT MEANS. 